Leon_Trotsky wrote on 02/05/19 at 22:15:30:



7...cxd4 8. cxd4 Qb6 is really fun at the club level if you are prepared, especially in quick time controls.  You can pair it with 7...cxd4 8. cxd4 Bc5 in the same way (sharp vs. subtle) that you can pair the Morozevich lines in the Burn variation (Be7, gxf6 etc.) with the probably weaker but easier to play Bxf6 lines favored by Bareev etc.

MW wrote on 02/05/19 at 21:15:31:


How do you find 7...Ae7 (with or without being available to transpose to 7...a6 later) in terms of generating winning chances ¿

One time in a tournament I was looking at the remaining games. One 2300 played 7...cxd4 and got destroyed in less than 25 moves in a kingside attack against some junior with something embarassing happening on h7. So I wonder if 7...cxd4 is simply much sharper than all of the other choices, which excites White players who are obsessed with attacking. At least compared to 7...a6 and 7...Ae7.

I have Jannick Pelletier's ChessBase DVD on French (in French language too  ) and he recommends 6...Ae7 7. Ae3 b6, where Black could transpose later to 7...Ae7 or otherwise try for trade the bitchops on a6. Looks interesting to me, but I have 0st experience here.

MW wrote on 02/05/19 at 21:15:31:


7...cxd4 8. Cxd4 Db6 is a line played by Nakamura and other sharp players.


7...cxd4 8. Cxd4 Ac5 is the other less crazy line. But still sharp like as if it were the English Attack in the Taimanow.

I tend to prefer the Winawer but also played the Steinitz for a short time in ICCF. The 7...a6 variation was my choice as the lines aren't as forced as say 7...cxd4 followed by ..Qb6. But even so, generating any real winning chances (even against lower rated players) is difficult.

I play the Winawer, have to say. But when I was exploring alternatives (because of mere change, nothing bad with my beloved Winawer) I tent to consider 7...a6 easier to understand and very straightforward. I think 7...Be7 is better, but you have to understand the pros and cons where to transpose to a6 lines or cxd4 lines in a favourable version, avoiding some concrete move orders by White. Not easy.

7...cxd4 maybe is the more concrete and tactical and I never thought about it seriously, maybe is a good option too.

My 5 cents.